RealGM

Incoming 5 Star High School Recruits (according to 24/7):

1. Darryn Peterson - G - 6'5" 195 - Kansas
2. AJ Dybantsa - F - 6'9" 210 - Brigham Young
3. Cameron Boozer - F - 6'9" 235 - Duke
4. Nate Ament - F - 6'10" 185 - Tennessee
5. Darius Acuff Jr. - G - 6'2" 180 - Arkansas
6. Mikel Brown Jr. - G - 6'3" 172 - Louisville
7. Chris Cenac Jr. - C - 6'10" - 233 - Houston
8. Caleb Wilson - F - Caleb Wilson - 6'9" 205 - North Carolina
9. Brayden Burries - G - 6'4" 200 - Arizona
10. Alijah Arenas - G - 6'6" 195 - Southern California
11. Koa Peat - F - 6'8" 235 - Arizona
12. Braylon Mullins - G - 6'4" 180 - Connecticut
13. Meleek Thomas - G - 6'3" 181 - Arkansas
14. Tounde Yessoufou - F - 6'6" 210 - Baylor
15. Nikolas Khamenia - F - 6'8" 210 - Duke

https://247sports.com/season/2025-basketball/RecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

I think AJ Dybantsa has the best video highlights.

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I'm going to keep up with this draft the whole year, no more youtubing 2 weeks before the draft. My takes are going to be so good

Stanford wrote:I'm going to keep up with this draft the whole year, no more youtubing 2 weeks before the draft. My takes are going to be so good

As if they weren't stellar this year.

I'm blushing over here

Stanford wrote:I'm going to keep up with this draft the whole year, no more youtubing 2 weeks before the draft. My takes are going to be so good

TBH, two week cram prolly yields better results than full year follow.

I was like hyper focused on random traits on and off all year and then as we got to the draft I'm like "I'll be good with whoever"

If Embiid and PG pull another no-show then we have a chance to keep our pick in the top 4. Would really suck to give away a pick from 5-10 to goddamn OKC.

Arsenal wrote:If Embiid and PG pull another no-show then we have a chance to keep our pick in the top 4. Would really suck to give away a pick from 5-10 to goddamn OKC.

I have zero expectations of being competitive this year. In fact, the ultimate nightmare scenario would be to be in the hunt for a 5-6 seed and Morey deciding to "go for it" at the deadline.

My goals for the season are see what we have with our kids, rid ourselves of aging contracts, and getting back into next year's draft. The best of all worlds would be a pump and dump of George, actually getting a useful return. I know it's a pipe dream.

https://www.tankathon.com/mock_draft

Tankathon has updated their site with the 2026 Draft stuff.

Makes me mad to see Yaxel landing in OKC with our pick lol.

M.Brown Jr is at least 6’4 and man he’s pretty darn good with his handles/passing/shooting. Long arms too. Gotta see what his wingspan is. Dude hit a growth spurt.

Kobblehead wrote:

Stanford wrote:I'm going to keep up with this draft the whole year, no more youtubing 2 weeks before the draft. My takes are going to be so good

TBH, two week cram prolly yields better results than full year follow.

I was like hyper focused on random traits on and off all year and then as we got to the draft I'm like "I'll be good with whoever"

Exactly. When you watch too much and post your takes publicly, bias takes over. I’d say just dont worry to keep changing your mind.

Personally, I rely heavily on numbers, im heavy on BPM, and player archetype relative to the trend of the game. If a guy checks out analytically, I just put him on my watchlist. Some flame out, like Egor Demin last year, but others hold up, like Reed Sheppard. I don’t really dig into the film until we get closer to the draft, and that’s when I start ranking them.

Each year I try to tweak how I evaluate. For example, I realized I overlooked Reed Sheppard’s standing reach. And now I put more value on 6’4”–6’6” guards who play bigger than their size, guys who can defend, pass, dribble, and shoot.

The game also changes a lot like fashion trends so value of archetype of players keep changing. And what could be highly valued right now may not be so when the draft is near.

Kobblehead wrote:https://www.tankathon.com/mock_draft

Tankathon has updated their site with the 2026 Draft stuff.

Makes me mad to see Yaxel landing in OKC with our pick lol.

Still can’t believe he didn’t go in this draft.

Looking forward to seeing Yaxel at Michigan against Big 10 competition. Also, if he unveils a three ball this year, he's going lottery (in spite of his age).

Phillybul wrote:M.Brown Jr is at least 6’4 and man he’s pretty darn good with his handles/passing/shooting. Long arms too. Gotta see what his wingspan is. Dude hit a growth spurt.

Yeah, he's smooth and in control of games during this U-19 run.



Probably the best shotblocking G since Fultz.

Kobblehead wrote:

Phillybul wrote:M.Brown Jr is at least 6’4 and man he’s pretty darn good with his handles/passing/shooting. Long arms too. Gotta see what his wingspan is. Dude hit a growth spurt.

Yeah, he's smooth and in control of games during this U-19 run.

Watch on YouTube

Probably the best shotblocking G since Fultz.

So damn smooth! I’m going to follow him in college. Try to catch all his games if I can.

Kobblehead wrote:

Watch on YouTube

I think AJ Dybantsa has the best video highlights.

Ballislife has a way of making every high school player look like the next LeBron.

Ha, true.

I really do think Dybantsa is special, though.

He's very likely to be at least 6'7" barefoot and he's a unit of an athlete with insane handle. Easily the early #1 pick, in my eyes. I honestly don't see how Darryn Peterson has the early lead for #1.

This draft leads me to believe that the mfing PF position is coming back, baby!

Cameron Boozer
Koa Peat
Karim Lopez

These are old school power forwards.

If we’re bad it’s gotta be Dybantsa as the guy.